Parachute harness



June 30, 1942.

F. G. MANSON PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed Aug.. s, 1'940 2 sheets-sheet 1FIG. 1

Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES vPlrreNT OFFICE -Pmcnu'rn HARNESSFrank G. Manson, Dayton, Ohio Applicata August s, 1940, sem1No.3s1,c3s

(Granted undef the act of Mai-cn 3, 1ss3, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) v 11 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and. used by or forthe- Government for which is capable of quick release and disengagementfrom the body of the wearer.

A particular object of the present construction is to provide a harnesswherein a pair of lift webs are adapted to extend in substantiallyparallel relation down the Hack of the wearer and terminate in legstraps, so that most of the weight of the wearers body is carrieddirectly by the continuous material of the lift webs, thereby avoidinglarge stresses in stitched connections.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts and thecombination thereof as will become more apparent from the followingdescription.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration there is shownonly a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a view of the harness with the parts extended; and

Figure 2 is a view of the harness with the parts connectedtogethervinthe positions they'would assume on a. wearer. Y

' In the present harness, designed for use with the back typeuofparachute pack, there are provided a pair of lift webs I and 2 equippedwith rings 3 and 4 for securing the shroud lines from the parachutecanopy. The lift webs I and 2 are adapted to be disposed insubstantially parallel relation down the back of the wearer, `andterminate in what may be termed leg straps 5 and 5 carrying at theirends the connector parts 'I and 8. The leg strapsV 5 and 6 are providedwith lengthfadjusting buckles 9 and IlLfin such a manner that each legstrap passes once through the adjusting buckle, then around the eye inthe connector part and back to the ad' stitched back onitself in themanner shown inl Figure 2.

A seat strap I5 is provided with enlarged loops,

as shown at I6 and I1, so as to be longitudinally adjustable on the liftwebs I and 2.` Preferably,

the loops I6 and I1 are intended to be stitched l to the lift -webs inthe proper position to best t a particular individual, but thisstitching may be light hand stitching, as it is not subjected toappreciable stress. A back strap I8 formed of wide webbing may terial isattached in transverse relation to the .straps yto their respective liftwebs.

lift webs and 2 by stitching or other equivalent means. l The length ofthe back strap' I8 is such that the end portions I9 and 20 partiallyencircle the waist of the wearer. Short loops of webbing 2| and 22, orother'strong material, are attached to the end `portions I9 and 20,preferably by stitching Iin the regions indicated at 23. Rings 24 and 25are carried by the loops 2| and 22 and are thus definitely positioned bymeans 'of the stitching in the parts 23.

means of the length-adjusting buckle 32, this buckle beingpreferablypositioned at one side of' the wearer so that a smooth stripof the belt 30 will lie' against the wearers back underneath the backstrap I8. Shoulder straps 30 and 3|v pass through adjusting buckles 33and 34, respectively, on the lift webs I and 2, the function of thelast-named buckles being to adjustably fix and determine the point ofattachment of the back Connecting parts 35 and 36 are attached to theends of the back straps 3D and 3| in a well-known manner and 'for apurpose presently to be described.

AThus it is seen that the back strap 30 begins at one end with theconnecting part 35, passes through the adjusting buckle 33 on the liftweb I and then proceeds diagonally across the back of the wearer tothering 25, where it doubles back upon itself and lies against the backstrap I8- until it reaches the buckle- 32, where its other end isanchored in proper adjustment. Similarly, the shoulder strap 3| beginsat one end at the connecting part 35, proceeds through the buckle 34 onthe lift web 2 and then passes diagonally alsl across the back of thewearer to the ringl 24 and thence into the adjusting buckle 32 in theoppostraps, both of .the straps 30 and 3| arefree for` longitudinalmovement with respect to the back strap I8,' so that their lengths maybe altered by sliding them through the rings 24 and 25, and also throughthe adjusters 33 and 34, if necessary.

It is thus seen from Figure 1 that the lower extremities of the liftwebs' I and 2, which are in reality the ends of the leg straps 5 and 6carrying the connecting parts 1 and 8, may be called free ends.Similarly, the upper extremities of the shoulder straps carrying theconnecting parts 35 and 36 may also be called free ends. A connectingdevice 40 is employed vfor securing together these four free ends in themanner 35, so that the connector 40 will always remain with the harnessand be carried by one of the straps. The specific construction of thisconnector forms `n0 partv of the present invention, and any equivalentconnector may be used.

The manner in which the harness nts the wearer is apparent in Figure 2.The lift webs I and 2, when they are supported by the shroud lines fromthe canopy of the parachute attached to the rings 3 and 4, will bedisposed in substantially parallel relation down the back of the wearer.The lower parts of the lift webs I and 2 form leg straps 5 and 6supporting a greater part of the wearers weight. The leg straps 5 and 6are disposed in front of the wearer and there engaged by the loops 2|and 22 in the ends of the back strap I8, thereafter upwardly convergingtoward the connector 40. The shoulder straps 30 and 3| cross behind thewearers back and pass over the wearers shoulders f'or engagement withthe connector 40, to resist the downward pull of the leg straps.

Thus it is seen that substantially the entire weight of the wearers bodyis borne by the material of the lift webs alone without involving thestrength of any stitched portions or connections with other straps. Theweight is supported by means of a direct pull in tension on each of thelift webs in substantially a straight line from the wearers thighs tothe connection with the shroud lines of the parachute. Thisconstruclength of the wearers back, each of said lift websv terminatingin a leg strap having a free end disposed in front of the wearer; awebbing strap ,attached transversely to said lift Webs so as to bedisposed horizontally across the wearers back, said webbing strap havinga leg-strap-engaging loop at each end thereof; an adjustable strapsecured to said webbing stra'p and having reaches extending diagonallyacross the wearers back and from approximately said loops respectivelyto an opposite shoulder of the wearer, said reaches terminating in freeends disposed in front `of the wearer; and quick-release fastening meansfor securing together al1 of said free ends.

2. A parachute harness comprising a pair of substantially parallel liftwebs extending the full length of the wearers back and terminating inadjustable leg straps having free ends for disposition in front of thewearer, a strap having a portion attached transversely across said liftwebs and having leg-strap-engaging loops, a shoulder strap extendingapproximately from each of said loops and across an opposite shoulder ofthe. wearer, said shoulder straps passing through guides on said liftwebs at approximatelyshoulder height and terminating in vfree ends, andquickrelease fastening means for securing together all of said freeends.

3. In a parachute harness, a pair of lift webs adapted to extend inparallel relation down the back of the wearer, each of said lift websterminating in a free end; a transverse strap attached to said lift websin a position to embrace the back of the wearer; a loop at each lateralextremity of said transverse strap adapted to receive one of said liftwebs near the 'free end thereof; `diagonal straps extending from theregions of said loops across the opposite shoulders of the wearer andterminating in free ends; and quick-release fastening means for securingtogether all of said free ends in front of the wearer.

4. A parachute harness comprising a pair of substantially parallel lift`webs, an extremity of .each of said lift webs constituting a leg straption makes for great strength, as well as simplicity of design, ease ofadjustment, and the possibility of a quick release from the harnessafter the descent.

A considerable range of adjustment for different sizes of individuals ispossible through changing only the adjusters 9 and I0, but if greateradjustment is desired, the length of the shoulder straps may be variedby means of the buckle 32.

Release of the harness from thelbody of the `wearer may be quicklyeffected by operation of the knob 4I on the connector 40, which allowsthe previously mentioned free ends to separate. Tension on the legstraps will' easily draw the ends of the latter free of the large loops2'I and 22, whereupon the wearer is immediately completely disengagedfrom the harness.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of myinvention, it is to be underterminating in a free end; a-strap securedto said parallel lift webs in transverserelation thereto and carryinglegstrapengaging loops on opposite sides thereof; shoulder strapsanchored to said loop-carrying strap and terminating in free ends; andquick-release fastening means' ,for securing together all of said freeends.

5. In aparachute harness, a pair'of lift webs adapted to extend down thewearers back in substantially parallel relationand terminatingin legstraps, each having a free end; loops adapted to engage said leg strapsin front of the wearer; diagonal straps extending from adjacent saidloops across the back of the wearer and over opposite shoulders, andterminating in free ends;

and quick-release fastening means for securing together all of said freeends in front of the lift webs, the lower extremities of whichconstitute leg straps; a back strap secured transversely to saidsupporting webs, said back strap having at each end thereof a `loop forslidably receiving' a leg strap therethrough; a seat strap spanning saidlift webs and associated therewith so as to be slidably adjustabletherealong; shoulder straps attached to said lift webs; and means forattaching the ends of said shoulder straps to lift webs terminating inleg straps, and a strap attached transversely to said lift webs andhaving means for loosely-engaging intermediate por-4 tions of said legstraps, said transverse strap having attached thereto crossing shoulderstraps having engagement with said lift Webs above the'points of saidtransverse attachment.

10. A parachute harness comprising a pair of lift webs, the lowerextremities of which constitute adjustable leg straps, means spacing andinterconnecting said lift Webs to form a seat portion; shoulder strapsattached to said lift webs; and means for attaching said leg straps tosaid shoulder straps.

l1. In a parachute harness, a pair of lift webs and a seat strap spacingand loosely connecting said lift Webs intermediate their ends so as tobe adjustable therealong.

FRANK G. MANSON.

